The Albanese Government has achieved another successful milestone for employees across the Australian Public Service (APS).
Results this week have seen employees in the four biggest agencies – the Australian Taxation Office, the Department of Home Affairs, Services Australia and the Department of Defence – vote up their enterprise agreements.
The success of APS-wide bargaining means employees at 45 agencies, or almost 70 per cent of all APS employees, can access the benefits of the new agreements.
The ballots that have taken place so far have resulted in an average vote of 96 per cent in favour of the agreement, which includes enhanced working conditions such as improved flexible work and parental leave arrangements, and the Government’s first steps towards addressing pay fragmentation across the service.
Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, said the Albanese Government is committed to genuine bargaining.
“When Labor came to office, we said we would bargain in good faith with APS employees and that is exactly what we did. This was in direct contrast to the approach taken by the former Liberal/National Government.”
“Public servants work hard, the Albanese Government values their work, and we welcome the strong yes vote in enterprise agreement ballots so far.”
A further 12 ballots are due to close this week, with all APS agencies expected to achieve the timeframe of 14 March 2024, when the first pay increase is set to take effect.